Chess Puzzle #26vjr — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1618 · Advanced · attraction, crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rook a1; bishops c1/e2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g3. Black: king c8; queen h5; rook d8; bishop d6; knight f3; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f6/f7/g4. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qh1 — queen d1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen h5→h1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g2→h1, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook d8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop c1→h6).
  4. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h8→h6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/ppp2p2/3bpp2/7q/4N1p1/3P1nP1/PPP1BPK1/R1BQ4 w - - 0 18

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.